WILBRAHAM – The town received three bids on Jan. 28 to lease space for its senior center and Parks and Recreation Department – two of which were for the Scantic Valley YMCA – from which both departments currently lease.

The senior center and Recreation Department’s lease with the Scantic Valley YMCA Family Center expired in October 2015 and the town is currently leasing space for both departments on a month-to-month basis.

The senior center is 3,840 square feet and $75,000 was paid annually to the Y in order to operate out of that location. The total yearly cost of renting both spaces was $90,000.

The RFPs, published on Dec. 16, stated a minimum of 3,500 square feet was needed for the senior center and 1,600 square feet for Parks and Recreation. Four RFPs were published for leasing and purchasing space for both departments.

Town Administrator Nick Breault said the bid for leasing senior center space through the YMCA of Greater Springfield came back at a cost of $71,760 annually with a monthly rent of $5,980.

The only bid that came in for leasing space for Parks and Recreation was also from the Y. The organization proposed annual lease of $22,566 for the first year.

Breault later said the Y’s proposal entails leasing 3,958 square feet for the senior center and 1,152 square feet for the Recreation Department.

“We have greatly enjoyed our relationship with the senior center over the past decade and look forward to continuing to provide this service,” YMCA of Greater Springfield President & CEO Scott Berg stated in the bid’s cover letter. “I am returning to the YMCA after a decade away from the organization and was part of the original agreement to lease space to both the senior center and Recreation Department in 2004.”

Breault added another bid for $5,000 a month was submitted by the Episcopal Church of the Epiphany, located at 20 Highland Ave.

Rev. Nathaniel Anderson, pastor of the Church of the Epiphany and Christ the King Lutheran Church at 758 Main St., said 5,100 square feet is available at the Church of the Epiphany to lease.

“Church real estate is some of the most underutilized property in the country,” he added.

The church only hosts services during the fourth Sunday of each month, he noted. For the most part, the space would be free for the senior center to utilize. Alcoholics Anonymous also typically hosts meetings on Saturday and Sunday evenings.

The senior center’s hours of operation are Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Anderson said the only potential conflict would be the Foods, Friends & Fun summer food service program that takes place during weekdays from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

He said if the town were interested in leasing space at the church the two parties would likely have a conversation about possibly moving that program off site.

Director of Elder Affairs Paula Dubord said she wasn’t really surprised by the low amount of bids that the town received.

“We’ll see where we go from here,” she noted.

She added an evaluation committee composed of six members, including herself, Senior Center Feasibility Committee Chair Dennis Lopata, Breault, Board of Selectmen Chair Robert Boilard, Administrative Assistant Candace Ouillette and Council on Aging Board Chair M. Trant Campbell would rank the two bids for senior center space.

“Does it fit our needs more than just cost?” she explained. “Is it an appropriate place to be?”

Breault said the evaluation committee would likely present its recommendation to the Board of Selectmen during its Feb. 8 meeting.